Conservative MP Priti Patel has called on Sir Stephen Bubb to repay money which Acevo used to help pay for his 60th birthday party in the House of Lords last year.

She said it is “scandalous that money which could have been spent on good causes seemed to have helped fund a knees-up for Sir Stephen and his friends”.

Patel has also criticised charities for collaborating to create a new group to oppose government changes to human rights law, saying charities should get on with “delivering frontline services rather than running political campaigns”.

Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of Acevo, held his 60th birthday party at the House of Lords last November. According to press reports, the event cost over £1,000, and was partly-funded by Acevo. Acevo has not denied this.

The Telegraph quotes Sir Stephen's personal blog about the party, where he described it as an “eclectic mix of family and friends, Acevo members, parliamentarians, churchmen, media, old college palls, trade unionists, Baronesses and Cabinet ministers".

The Telegraph has published a string of stories related to charity pay over the past few days, leading to a national debate on the wages and salary increases of charity chief executives.

Priti Patel, Conservative MP for Witham and member of the Public Administration Select Committee, helped The Telegraph compile its figures on the wages and salary increases of senior charity executives at the international development charities which are members of the Disasters Emergency Committee.

The Telegraph describes her as a “campaigner against boardroom pay excess among charities”.

In response, Sir Stephen has alleged that Priti and other MPs on the right “hate effective charities which campaign”.

Writing in Conservative Home today, Patel said that “Sir Stephen has completely misjudged this issue by trying to turn the controversy into a political issue” .

“The concerns which have been raised have nothing to do with ‘MPs on the right’,” she said.

“There are some superb charities in my constituency and throughout the country that do outstanding work, often on a shoestring….The essence of the matter is that the public deserve to know that money given to charities in donations and by the taxpayer is spent in the most effective way possible, with charity bosses being held to account in an open and transparent way.”

Bubb's party money 'could help many vulnerable people'

Priti added that it is “scandalous” that Acevo partly-funded Sir Stephen’s birthday party last year.

“I know plenty of charities who could put to good use the money Acevo paid for Sir Stephen’s party to help many vulnerable people.

“It is through actions like these that confidence in charities is shaken and not, as Sir Stephen claims, by the comments William Shawcross, chair of the Charity Commission, and I have made.”

Priti calls for Sir Stephen to pay back any money Acevo used to fund his birthday party. She also calls for the Charity Commission to return to the issue of charity pay. Last week Shawcross, chair of the Charity Commission, said some charity executive salaries were bringing the sector into “disrepute”.

Acevo is funded by membership fees from charity chief executives.

Acevo: party was a fitting recognition of service

An Acevo spokeswoman said: `“As part of its ongoing work in building stakeholder relationships, Acevo invited its members, parliamentarians and Cabinet ministers, national media and other key partners to an event  at the House of Lords to mark the 60th birthday of Acevo’s longstanding chief executive.

“The Acevo board approved these arrangements and covered half the cost. Sir Stephen also asked family and friends to the event, so he paid half the cost personally. This was a tea party, no alcohol was provided and Sir Stephen arranged his own birthday cake. It was an entirely fitting recognition of Sir Stephen's outstanding contribution to the charity sector and a valuable contribution to Acevo's work representing charities to Westminster.”

Human rights campaign

Elswhere, Patel has criticised a coalition of charities for partnering with a new group which is seeking to raise awareness about human rights and protect the Human Rights Act.

Equally Ours is supported by seven charities and organisations, including Age UK and Mind.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Patel said: “Charities are using human rights laws to pursue political agendas against the government in judicial review cases.

“Their support for current human rights laws is misplaced and they should get on with delivering frontline services rather than running political campaigns.”